Caretaker Government’s ‘taking care’ of pensions
HAVE you noticed how individual ‘caretaker ministers’ of this trendy government are giving themselves a pretence of being in power over the past 100 days?
We have independent ‘TD’ Finian McGrath, who did not even stand in the general election, still giving himself extra kudos as Minister for Disability Issues, in the bizarre sense that he is totally in charge of his evaporated brief.
Then we have John Halligan, another who did not put himself forward for election, yet sees himself at the top of his game as Minister for Training, yet has but the same lame validation as the man in the street who has never been in politics. John is better known for demanding all Irish landlords should be jailed.
Another leading light in this ‘government’ is so-called Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, who was turfed out by the electorate at the last general election. Yet she is rewarded with joining the Covid-19 plinth with the medical experts outside Leinster House, to give us chapter and verse of her concerns with the behaviour of the citizenry towards our early school-going and older children.
Then there’s Shane Ross, Minister for Transport, who also lost his Dáil seat possibly because of his appalling treatment of motorists, but is still lording it over us with all the arrogance of a self-righteous plantation owner.
If there are more of the same in the Dáil who come to mind, fill in the blanks. But be confident that in the minds of voters, the only caretaker government ministers that make an administration acceptable are those who have been voted into office.
This Government is at best slightly constitutional and wholly bogus. Extra pensions, everyone?
Robert Sullivan,
This caretaker Government took their eye off the ball when it came to dealing with nursing homes across Ireland. More than 1,600 people here have died as a result of the virus and more than half of these deaths occurred in care settings.
It was highlighted by Sinn Féin in the Dáil that some nursing home staff had to wear painters’ overalls and goggles. They were forced to rely on personal protective equipment from a local vet as they struggled to get stock in. It is shameful the lengths staff had to go to due to the lack of PPE. Expert medics and politicians were understandably worried about the feared surge of cases in acute hospitals that look after the elderly. But by focusing intensely on all of this, the Government lost sight of protecting the most vulnerable in Irish society and are not fit to be in power.
Noel Harrington, Kinsale,
Albeit unsurprising, it is nevertheless concerning to note, from the recently published Annual Report 2019 of the Press
Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, that the current fall in economic activity puts even further pressure on the print media in Ireland.
An essential anchor for me in these ‘cocooning times’ has been to buy a couple of daily papers and then, at home, to extend the feelgood factor of my morning walk by perusing the news, page by page.
What a pleasure it is to read a newspaper knowing that my focus will not be distracted by the ‘looping’ presentation of various options and clickable advertisements.
Furthermore the print media is also a winner in terms of trust because once the news is published, it cannot be modified or deleted. Whereas in digital media, content can be ‘adjusted’ without notice or reason.
And while the news contained therein is sometimes gloomy, as presently, there is a unique potency in the appeal and distinctiveness of the weave of print on paper and the rite of turning each page and then folding it randomly to better frame the narrative.
Long may The Irish Mail on Sunday acknowledge the cohort, as with readers of books, whose experience is incomplete without the textured fabric of real paper.
Local shops and newsagents will nod their appreciation of you too, because there will always be others items from their shelves that will accompany ‘the paper’ home.
Michael Gannon, Co. Kilkenny.
A few years ago, after asking a female friend the age of her youngest son, the reply was, ‘He’s seven going on 70.’
I am often reminded of that comment when hearing or seeing small children on radio or television behaving like adults. In times long gone, little boys and girls were more innocent and only talked when spoken to.
Nowadays such youngsters appear to be more confident but, sadly, some of them have too much to say. I find it irritating having to watch such whippersnappers on ads and acting beyond their actual age.
Such citizens should take their time about growing up!
Eric Rice, Navan, Co Meath..